Improvement in piano-keys



J. W. HYATT. Piano-Key.

No. 210,780. Patented Dec. 10,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN VJ. HYATT, OE NEYVAEK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE TO THE OELLULOIDlvlANUFAOTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2 [0,780, datedDecember 10, 1878; application filed May 31, 1878.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn W. HYATT, of the city of Newark, in the countyof Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the lllanut'acture of Piano-Keys, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved keyboard for pianos, organs, andother analogous instruments and consists in covering a suitablekey-board blank on its exposed upper surface and edge with a sheet orscroll of some plastic composition, which is cemented or otherwisecaused to adhere to the surfaces whereon it is desired. After being thuscoated, the blank is sawed or otherwise severed into sections, each oneof which constitutes a covered key.

In this manner it is plain that at a single operation an entirekey-board can be covered, from which when severed the keys are formed.In this manner the old and tedious operation of covering each keyseparately after it has been formed is entirely obviated.

teierring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aderspective view of a key-board blank covered with plastic compositionthe parts whereon the ordinary facing is usuall laid. Fig. 2 representsa group of the keys cut out of the covered blank. Fig. 5 represents asingle key covered with the plastic composition or facing.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a keyboard blank, composed ofwood or any other suitable material, of the size and contour required toform the number of keys f the dimensions required. Over the uppersurface and outer edge of this blank, and cemented or otherwise securedthereto in a suitable manner, is provided a thin sheet or scroll, 13, ofplastic composition. So far as known, the material termed celluloid isthe best adapted to the purpose of covering the blank, though is plainthat other materials of a plastic nature may answer. The covering of theblank with the sheet of composition or material completes the firstessential step toward the production of the invention.

The next operation is to sever the blank into sections of the desiredsize to form the keys D.

Now, as the scroll B adheres very closely to the board A, it is plainthat at every operation of the severing device a complete covered key isremoved from the board, and that in this manner the keys may be veryrapidly and economically produced.

In securing the scroll upon the blank or board, care should be exercisedto see that it is firmly cemented at every place thereto, in order thatit may not be torn off or otherwise displaced in the operation ofcutting out the keys.

Celluloid has been found to be admirably adapted to serve for acovering, as it can be readily and smoothly out, is susceptible of avery high polish, is very agreeable to the touch, and it anyornamentation is desired upon the surface or edges of the keys it isonly necessary to warm the celluloid, and by means of suitably-shapeddies or instruments impress the desired design, which is retained uponthe key. as the composition hardens upon becoming cold.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a blank keyboard covered with acontinuous strip or roll of plastic composition, substantially asspecified.

2. The within-described process of forming piano or analogous keys,which consists in covering a key-board blank with a strip of plasticmaterial, and then cutting out each key from the coated blank,substantially specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing iniprovement in the manufactureof piano-keys, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 20thday of May, 1878.

JOHN W. HYATT.

lVitnesses:

ABRAHAM Miinnnns, HARRY 00X.

